Why I use the term "fascism" a lot more now

[LuckyTheDog]

The following is a note I wrote to a RWer who accused me of "recklessly throwing around" the term fascism to describe the dangers our republic faces now. I thought some of the verbiage could be useful to some here. Likewise, I was hoping some of you could suggest better arguments and/or tell me where I might have gone astray:


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I am trying to break though your naive faith in the powers that be. Yes, it CAN happen here. And we have radicals in the White House who will make it happen if they get the chance.

Bush is trying to take executive power far beyond what other presidents have done. He is literally putting himself beyond the reach of laws duly passed by Congress and which have not been ruled unconstitutional. That puts our republic in danger. I take that seriously.

The "unitary executive" theory was little more than an academic thought experiment among a few radicals till Bush decided to make it the theme of his presidency. It is not a "judicial philosophy." It is a right-wing POLITICAL idea that seeks to change the nature of the presidency. Judges (such as Alito) have no business being on the bench if they want to push agendas like that. Let them run for Congress.

You also do not understand fascism, or you would not say that national health insurance is fascist. Fascism is an ideology that sees the state not as an entity that serves the people, but as a kind of "organic organism" that rightly demands loyalty and obedience from the citizens. Fascism believes in the "corporate state," in which all institutions serve the greater glory of the "empire." Fascism is, by nature, imperialistic (Mussolini invaded Ethiopia for openly imperialistic reasons). It also is, by nature, set up to protect the interests of the powerful and enforce obedience from the masses.

It is the polar opposite of democratic socialism. And, in most ways, it also is distinct from communism, except for its authoritarian approach to governing.

[NMDemDist2]

1. If you have a satellite dish, turn to FSTV

interesting documentatry about that very topic right now

[mmonk]

3. What is FSTV?

[NMDemDist2]

4. Free Speech TV

http://www.freespeech.org/fscm2/genx.php?name=home

currently playing "Liberty Bound" A film by a Texas girl who had many questions about 9.11

[mmonk]

5. thanks

[NMDemDist2]

7. even if you don't have a dish, check it out. they play on some "local

access" cable channels too

[mmonk]

2. Fascism is the right word.

People are too tied up in our myths to take what's happening seriously.

[LuckyTheDog]

8. The word "republic"

We need to start talking more about "the republic" and the threats it faces. Progressives should be the defenders of the republic and not just of "the nation."

[Greyhound]

6. It is very uncomfortable to confront the reality that you have been duped.

I think that's a big part of the reason they can't admit what is happening before their eyes.

[LuckyTheDog]

9. True

They just don't want to believe it's happening.